Saturday’s Hardcore Championship Fighting billed it the fight that would either “make or break a UFC career, ” pitting Lethbridge up-and-comer Dan Chambers (9-3) versus 8-time UFC veteran Joe Riggs (25-9) in its middleweight main event. Riggs confirmed today on FIGHT NETWORK RADIO that the propaganda for that bout was not over-exaggerated.

“[UFC matchmaker] Joe Silva told me, ‘you lose, you’re done.’ I didn’t take it too seriously, but then they went and ran with it, so I was getting kind of nervous, ” said Riggs.

The former heavyweight managed to quell the anxiety and secure a first round triangle choke on Chambers at the River Cree Casino in Edmonton, Alberta, salvaging a bumpy two-year period that has included back surgery, an ankle infection, and alternate wins and losses, including a turmoil-filled loss to then UFC Welterweight Champion Matt Hughes at Nov. 2005’s UFC 56.

Riggs is expected to return to either the UFC or its second promotion, the WEC, next with no preference to one over the other by the 24-year-old new dad.

“Either or, ” Riggs said. “They’re pretty much the same. I’d like to get back to fighting the best in the world.”